People

Dr Shelley Davidow

Founder & Writing Co-ordinator

Shelley Davidow is an award-winning international author of 47 books. She is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast. Recent titles include the memoirs Runaways (Ultimo, 2022), Shadow Sisters (UQP, 2018), Whisperings in the Blood (UQP, 2016), and the creative writing textbook Playing with Words: An Introduction to Creative Writing Craft (Palgrave, UK, 2016).

Dr Paul Williams

Founder & Writing Co-ordinator

Dr Williams PhD is Deputy Head of the School of Business & Creative Industries (Research) at the University of the Sunshine Coast, Australia. He has published prize-winning fiction, young adult novels, a memoir, non-fiction, short stories, and critical articles. His latest works include Novel Ideas: Writing Innovative Fiction (Red Globe Press 2020), the best-selling crime thriller Don’t Tell (Bloodhound Books 2020), and Writing the Radical Memoir (Bloomsbury, 2022).

Frank Wilkie

Board Director

Journalist, playwright, school teacher and actor Frank has served as Noosa Arts Theatre committee chair since 2015 and on various arts and cultural boards including the Noosa Longweekend (Noosa Alive), the Noosa Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund, Cultural and Heritage Plan working group and the Noosa Biosphere Reserve Foundation. His plays and acting have won awards in South-East Queensland theatre festivals and his journalism attracted the Sunshine Coast Environment Council Environmental Journalism award. Frank is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (G.A.I.C.D) and Noosa’s Deputy Mayor.

Annie Grossman

Board Director

Annie has been the proud owner of Annie’s Books on Peregian for 14 years. This lively little bookshop has won the hearts of readers on the Sunshine Coast and around the country, with regular exciting author events, terrific in-store advice and service, and a passionate involvement in the local community. Having studied English Literature and Classical Literature in years gone by, Annie feels she has landed right where she belongs. She is an eager promoter of writing and reading in her local community, and is very excited to be a part of the wonderful team behind the Sunshine Coast Creative Writing Institute which will bring her interests and passions together

Karen Mitchell

Honorary Accountant

Karen runs an accounting practice on the Sunshine Coast working in the arts and not-for-profit sector. Her mission is to add value and enjoy. Karen started her career with Ernst & Young in Brisbane, London and Toronto before returning to Australia to take up the position of Financial Controller at the Queensland Performing Arts Complex. Karen has served on a number of arts boards including La Boite Theatre, the Queensland Writers’ Festival, and the Noosa Long Weekend Festival (Noosa Alive!).

FCA

Kerri Deakon

Board Director

Kerri Deacon has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Southern Queensland and a Trinity College Certificate in ESL. She has been sharing the joys and frustrations of the English language with foreign students for over 20 years. As a one-time owner of Mary Ryan’s Bookstore Hastings Street she brings experience in organising and hosting literary events. Kerri is passionate about reading and uncovering new stories in the Noosa community and believes everyone has a unique voice to share. She has explored a variety of different roles in retail, childcare, accounts and administration and even a stint as a Karaoke host and wedding singer. She is a devoted book club enthusiast, scribbler, wife and mother of two.

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I kept always two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in.

― Robert Louis Stevenson